Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-11-25
THE OLDEST RESIDENT DEAD.

OS'->AS
A. Fuller, the oldest resident OF Stanton
and only wanting few months OF being
the oldest person in it, died Of paralysis, at
the age of 88 years. She was born in
Fredericksburg in February, 1893, and
came to this city in 1910. Her father was
an Irish Presbyterian who was brought to
this country by George Washington when
he was President, on the recommendation
of Col. Fitzgerald, an Irish Colonel who
had served on his staff. Washlngton's
idea was to have first-class male Acade-
my at Fredericksburg, and Mr.. Fuller
was brought to teach Mathematics In it.
In 1910 he moved here to teach at the
Staunton Male Academy, and brought
with him his four children Miss Sallie.
James, Jerry and George W. Fuller. OF
the four Mr.. George W. Fuller now alone
survives.
At the age of eighteen. Miss Sallie, who
was like her father teacher by profess
sion, joined the Methodist church here
and at her death had been member for
seventy years. She was the oldest surviving
member Of that church, except the ven
cradle mother of Maj. s. NJ. Yost. who
joined the church earlier in life and is 81
years of age. Miss Fuller, who was in
many respects remarkable woman, was
not only devoue member of her church
but a devotee, and from the day Of her
connection with it made it her central
thought as far as matters Of this world
were concerned. 1t is said that in the early
and struggling days of the church here,
when the sexton was sick, she volunteer
ed to attend to his duties and rang the
bell for Sabbath worship. During her
long life she saw the church grow from a
Worshipping in cheap and temporary
s-ructures, into denomination that sur
passes any in America for numbers and
wealth. Among her personal acqualnt-
ances was Bishop Asbury. one of the first
two Methodist Episcopal Bishops of Am
erica. She was the valued friend of the
Morgans, Ia father and three sons), the
Browns, Norvell Wilson, Riley and many
other distinguished Methodist ministers
who have passed away, and the Rev. DR..
john S. Martin, whose life is itself almost
history of Methodism. was her pastor in
1888, fifty years ago. Bishop George who
Gied here and whose remains are inferred
under the pulpit of the Methodist church,
was another friend of hers and she nursed
him in his last illness.
In the matter of public speaking she
was unusually gifted; leading in prayer at
be revivals and many other services Of
her church, and was especially to be re-
membeIed in her addresses at what are
called ''experieEce" meetings A thor
oul bly, educated woman, her command of
lang uage Was great and she never failed to
to deeply interest those who heard her.
Those who atteude the Baltimore Con-
ference which met here twelve years ago,
will not forget her address to the Sunday
School Convention of that body, delivered
in front of the pulpit, on the
spot where her coffin rested last Monday.
Nothing could have been more beautiful
or affecting. and there was hardly min
Ter of the Conference present. who was not
affected to tears. In it she alluded to her
long connection with the church here and
to the fact that she had held the minister
who had just addressed them Rev. Alpine
US E. Wilson, now Bishop Wilson, in her
arms when an infant. Outside of her
church she seemed to have been minis
tering spirit wherever there was sickness
or sorrow, and there are few families
which existed here when she was in the
prime of womanhood, that have not cause
to remember her gratefully. That they
did so was shown Monday by the large
of heads of families from
all the religious den ominations and from |
all classes Of society, present at her funer- /,
al. For six or seven years feeble health
had put an end to her active life.
In her long life she had seen troops
march out of StauntOn to three wars-that |
Of 1872; that with Mexico, and that be- |
tween the States. She had seen Staunton
zrow from village of l 200 Inhabitants i,
TO city of 5000. She had seen the last |
,ession of the old Baltimore M. E. Con-
ference and heard the debates ia the |
session which preceded its sepa-
ration in twain. sight that gave her |
great concern.
Her funeral took place last Monday |
at 1890 at the Methodist chu rch.
The church was full. Rev. DR.. Gardner,
,he pastor, took for his text the words |
rom Job: Thou shalt cone to thy |
grave in full age, like unto a shock of
corn cometh in in his season." He spok 9
briefly and earnestly of the Christian char
acter of the deceased and said the thoughts
If all about her future would find express :
sion in what was said by the late DR. Nc
Ferrin to his son. The old minister was
PROSTATE in his last illness and his so n !
who had call to preach sermon at
hesitated about Leaving bis faith
ar. Yes john" said the dying patriarch,
go and preach, and if should slip off
while you are gone, you k'aoaD aohere to find |
me-" That, said DR.. Gardner, Is what
avery one here feels about the whereabou
his day of her who lies there-we know
where to find her.
at the close of the services the inter-
nent took place at Thornrose Cemetery.
The pail bearers were Messrs. George Har-
an, P. N. Powell, E. M. Gushing, J. A.
Fauver. A. M. Simpson and Rudolph |
kinZley.
The United States Express.
Since the B. & y. Express was CONSOLE
lated with the United States Express the
great addition to its length of line has in
creased the business of the office here, as
ua learn fram Apant s N JiI1ar |